Will I get Better - Ever?

[2bGood]

So I have golfed for 8 year now. Between young kids and different hobbies I my rounds per year are as follows:

Year 1 - 30 rounds, lessons, lots of range time Broke 100
Year 2 - 30 rounds, lessons, lots of range time shot under 100 a few times
Year 3 - 40 rounds, lots of range time, broke 90
Year 4 -6 - 10-20 rounds per year not sure if I did anything of note
Year 7 - 100 rounds, 4 lessons (really lost my swing for 6 months but still managed to eak out a decent score) shot a 79 on November 11, 2009v- Kept a a real handicap that hovered form 13-18
Year 8 - 48 rounds so far, broke 80 for a second time. HDCP has moved higher then 14 or lower then 13. 2 lessons, practice twice per week.

The thing is after improving allot last year I kind of leveled off and I stayed about the same cap, despite my game changing allot. My swing is much better now then 4 or 5 months ago, my putting is much better, but despite that I go out and shoot the same scores.

It seems like I will have bad day but get good breaks and shoot 87, or I will have good day and get bad breaks and shoot 85. It just seems like my score is not related how well I play.

I have fun and enjoy myself, but though I feel my game has really improved and just can't seem to get my handicap down.

My goal was to get my cap to single digits in 2010, but it not looking good right now.

[alomar123]

You need to look deep to what is keeping you down.

Ex. Many people think they are bad at putting, when really they stink at their iron game because they are not hitting it close to the pin. Are you gathering penalties? Need to hit it longer? Cant get up and down?

Id advise if you are not already to keep track of detailed stats, so you can see your weaknesses.

You will get better.

[2bGood]

The thing is it not one thing, but it seems I have balance in my game in a bad way. If I hit it from the tee well, my iron game is off, if my putting is on my driver is off. I very rarelly have everything going at once, and very rarely have the same issue in my game for more then 2 rounds. I know I can go out and shot a mid 70 number if I could have the best peices of my game combined from the last 10 rounds.

[mdbuschsr]

... if I could have the best peices of my game combined from the last 10 rounds.

That's why we all keep playing. The hope that at some point everything will magically fall into place. Keep at it, keep practicing, and they will. Eventually!

[Bullitt5339]

I'm kind of the same way. Last week, the driver was working great, I couldn't miss, but my wedges were horrible. Today, my driving sucked, but my wedge play was decent. Same score both rounds..... If everything would work at one time, I'd be a good golfer....... lol

[kafka01]

I'm kind of the same way. Last week, the driver was working great, I couldn't miss, but my wedges were horrible. Today, my driving sucked, but my wedge play was decent. Same score both rounds..... If everything would work at one time, I'd be a good golfer....... lol

And do you know why your driver is good one week and your wedges bad and vica versa? Go figure this out and you are on your way to a better consistency! Otherwise you just keep guessing around the rest of your golfing life...

The second i did this - i didnt had to go on the range in the morning, hitting bad shots and guessing around what caused them. Now i can work much more focused on acute problems and get them fixed quicker or get some kind of "workaround" for that day if i need it.

[Easy]

Could be a mental block? The mind can do some crazy stuff if you feel undeserving.

But for now just keep on digging the dirt and like the other guy said practice with a purpose.

[2bGood]

And do you know why your driver is good one week and your wedges bad and vica versa? Go figure this out and you are on your way to a better consistency! Otherwise you just keep guessing around the rest of your golfing life...

Most of the time I do kno what wrong and I can fix it, today it was bad luck for the most part, I hit good shots that just did not work out. The other issue I had was distance control with my irons. My driver swing was really on and I was hitting far for me (about 270 on average), but my irons were all over the place distance wise, so I really have to work on that. Anyhow I am a great scramble partner right now as hit lots of great shots, but about those bad ones...........

[Bullitt5339]

And do you know why your driver is good one week and your wedges bad and vica versa? Go figure this out and you are on your way to a better consistency! Otherwise you just keep guessing around the rest of your golfing life...

Oh, I know exactly why. Because I concentrate on practice during the week on what wasn't working and killing my score, so it works but the rest of my game suffers from the lack of practice.

[jamo]

Most people hit a wall when their swing in it's current state is as good as it can be. Find a new teacher I would say.

[laconic517]

Most of the time I do kno what wrong and I can fix it, today it was bad luck for the most part, I hit good shots that just did not work out. The other issue I had was distance control with my irons. My driver swing was really on and I was hitting far for me (about 270 on average), but my irons were all over the place distance wise, so I really have to work on that.

you need to tell yourself certain shots are just unacceptable, skulls, tops, chunks and make sure you dont do those. Make sure you are always making progress towards the green. See if you can get a one way miss going too (although its pretty difficult) ask yourself if you really understand the golfswing (ballflight laws) take a hard look at your games and see what the deal is. Are you lying to yourself that you are making good contact or hitting good shots? Is your definition for a good shot too narrow or too broad? These are all things to consider. Do you get down onyourself and have several blowup holes? Do you make sure you get your putts to the hole? Do you rarely miss relatively straight (less than a hole of break or so) 6-8 footers? Are you a bad lag putter? Do you hit your shots where you are aiming when you chip? etc sort of rambled there, but you get the drift. For me personally, I got better this year by getting my one way miss back and understanding the golf swing more (ball flight laws) while also taking time to practice my shortgame and work on my mental attitude (used a rubber band that I snapped to stay in the present just like the guy in "Paper Tiger"). Dont lie to yourself.

[2bGood]

Most people hit a wall when their swing in it's current state is as good as it can be. Find a new teacher I would say.

I am with a new teacher, and he has done wonders for my swing this year. He likes to take things very slow and not give you very much to work on each lesson. Our first lesson was kind of funny as he showed up with a 25 ball bucket. I looked at him like he was crazy, but it was my best lesson ever.

[sean_miller]

My goal was to get my cap to single digits in 2010, but it not looking good right now.

Maybe you're as good as you'll ever be. Maybe you're not. Just have fun along the way. I found it easier to enjoy myself on the course once I admitted it's actually just a hobby.

[max power]

Maybe you're as good as you'll ever be. Maybe you're not. Just have fun along the way. I found it easier to enjoy myself on the course once I admitted it's actually just a hobby.

+1 You're already better than the vast majority of golfers will ever be-the percentage of golfers who legitimately break 80 is very, very small. Don't give up trying, but hopefully you can

enjoy playing as a 13.